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Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who was in the broadcast booth for Monday night's game in Mexico City between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, said he is "a huge buyer" of the former as a legitimate threat in the NFC. The team is filled with star power and playmakers, evident by its dominant 38-10 primetime win. However, that's not necessarily the main reason the analyst has believed in the Niners for several years.
"A big reason for that is because of [head coach] Kyle Shanahan," Aikman said on ESPN's SportsCenter after the game. "If I was in a position to hire a head coach, and I could hire anybody I wanted, Kyle Shanahan would be that guy. The way he's able to utilize his personnel ... I think, as we mentioned in our game, John Lynch, their general manager, has done a terrific job as well of assembling the players."
The 49ers outscored the Cardinals 21-0 in the second half of Monday night's contest. They have outscored their last three opponents 54-0 in the second halves of those games. San Francisco won its third consecutive game, improving its record to 6-4 overall and 4-0 within the NFC West.
"But they play a style of football that you just don't see around the league," Aikman continued. "It's an old-school style. I'm not surprised by that, knowing Kyle's background with his dad (Mike Shanahan) and running the football.
"But they are physical, and in a league today, where there's so much emphasis on players' safety, and not much contact, not many padded practices during the week, they play the game as I used to know it. Not many teams can match that if they're not accustomed to seeing it. I like them a lot."
Next up for the 49ers are three games at Levi's Stadium. They will face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, then the Maimi Dolphins, and close out the home stint with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before heading to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
Breaking down the 49ers drafts under John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan
By Marc Adams
Apr 20
We are less than one week away from the NFL Draft, and the San Francisco 49ers have their first day-one draft pick since 2021. That was the year they selected QB Trey Lance number three overall. The trade-up to get Lance cost the 49ers their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. And now that they are back in the first round, at pick 31, fans are anxious to see what the team does with the pick. And with former assistant GM, Adam Peters, now in Washington, it will be interesting to see how well the 49ers draft without Peters in the room.
We looked back at the seven drafts GM John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan have led to see what information we could pull from those drafts. There were plenty of hits, plenty of misses, and a few surprises along the way. The draft picks are
Brock Purdy hopes Kyle Shanahan makes addition to 49ers playbook
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He held onto the football 39 times on the ground, rushing for 144 yards and scoring twice. This marked a significant improvement over his rookie 2022 campaign when he had 22 carries for 13 yards and a score.
Purdy further displayed his athleticism during the 49ers' playoff game against the Detroit Lions last season, helping engineer a comeback victory while rushing for 48 yards on five carries.
On Tuesday morning, Purdy joined the "Pat McAfee Show," acknowledging that he believes he can contribute more rushing yards if called upon. However, that decision rests with head coach Kyle Shanahan,
Insiders identify late risers who 49ers could target in NFL Draft
By David Bonilla
Apr 19
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than a week away, ESPN contributors have highlighted some prospects who have seen their draft stock rise throughout the evaluation process. Jordan Reid and Matt Miller pinpointed players who could hear their names called at the end of the first round.
Interestingly, both of the prospects identified by Reid and Miller play in the trenches but on different sides of the ball. The San Francisco 49ers are widely expected to draft an offensive lineman with their first selection—No. 31 overall. The team mostly ignored the group in free agency. However, it wouldn't surprise many people if the
49ers sign WR Trent Taylor, reuniting with former draft pick
By David Bonilla
Apr 16
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
